The 2025 Volkswagen Golf has been revealed with updated styling, new interior tech and upgraded drivetrains ahead of a reported early 2025 Australian release date. Celebrating 50 years of its iconic hatchback, Volkswagen has addressed complaints about the Mk8 Golf with the ‘Mk8.5’ facelift, including longer range for the PHEV variants, reverting from touch-sensitive steering wheel controls and larger screens with updated infotainment software for greater ease of use.
Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars: “The Golf has been at the heart of the Volkswagen brand for half a century now, offering affordable mobility for all at the highest technical level.”
“This is precisely what we are now building on with the new evolutionary stage – with even higher efficiency, comfort and quality and a new operating concept. The Golf does not get any better than this.”
The exterior of the 2025 Volkswagen Golf has seen revised styling with new front and rear bumpers, new lighting units, new badging and new wheels as well. The bumpers are more aggressive for a sportier look, while the lighting units have revised with new signatures and a new optional illuminated front VW badge. In Europe, four new colour options – ‘Crystal Ice Blue’, ‘Anemone Blue’, ‘Oyster Silver’ and ‘Grenadilla Black’ – will be offered, as well as an optional black roof for R-Line, GTI and GTE variants.
On the inside of the 2025 Volkswagen Golf has also seen a lot of changes, with new larger screens with a 10.4-inch unit on entry-level models and a larger optional 12.9-inch unit. Both screens now feature the brand’s latest ‘MIB4’ infotainment software that debuted in the latest Tiguan, which is reportedly easier to use and features a new voice assistant that uses a new AI-powered chat bot with ChatGPT. The previous touch-sensitive steering wheel controls are now regular buttons in line with other Volkswagen models and there are also new higher-quality materials.
Under the bonnet of the 2025 Volkswagen Golf has seen improvements as well, with the European-spec GTI’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine now producing 195kW of power (up from 180kW) for more performance, though Volkswagen is yet to announce figures. The mid-range version of the same engine now makes 150kW (up from 140kW), while the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engines in Europe continue to be available with or without 48V mild-hybrid technology, plus the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel has also been upgraded. All petrol engines bar the entry-level 1.5TSI and 2.0TDI feature a dual-clutch automatic transmission as standard – the PHEVs get a six-speed unit versus the seven-speed in other variants.
Volkswagen has improved the range and performance of the two plug-in hybrid variants with a larger 19.7kWh battery for up to around 100km of all-electric driving range and upgraded 11kW AC charging and 50kW DC fast charging as well. Now using a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine instead of the current model’s 1.4-litre unit, the GTE now makes 20kW more power at 200kW to be the most potent non-R Golf model. Volkswagen is yet to announce details of the high-performance Golf R, or if Australian-spec models will see any drivetrain changes from the current 110kW 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine and eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission.
The 2025 Volkswagen Golf will reportedly go on sale in early 2025, with local specifications to be confirmed before then. Stay tuned to DiscoverAuto for the latest automotive news and reviews.
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